UNN: Host community protests, wants VC removed

By Chineneyeh Ozor

Barely three weeks after all the academic and workers’ unions in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, staged protest calling for the removal of the Vice Chancellor, Prof Batho Okolo over alleged maladministration in the institution and unjust suspension of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr Emeka Enejere, youths from the host community yesterday protested along the major streets in Nsukka, calling for Prof Okolo’s immediate sack by the Federal Government.

The youths protested carrying different placards which read, “Nsukka land does not want Batho Okolo again,” “Nsukka wants reinstatement of Enejere,” “We will continue this protest until the VC is removed.”

Spokesmen of the group Mr Victor Ezugwu and Dr Fabian Ugwu said the youths decided to carry out the peaceful protest to call the attention of government to the unholy activities of Prof Okolo at the UNN.

“The people of Nsukka have suffered untold hardship ever since the inception of the administration of Prof. Okolo as Vice Chancellor. Bartho Okolo has been denying the host community employment and admission quota and other benefits they enjoyed under previous administration before him.

’’We are not the only ones protesting against Bartho Okolo despotic rule in UNN. All his workers are against him. We have become aliens on our own soil. Government must not sacrifice the progress of UNN by keeping Prof Okolo.’

“President Goodluck Jonathan must act speedily by removing Prof Okolo, before it is too late.

“We are not mindful of the fact that he has few months to complete his term; we want the VC removed. We call on President Jonathan to intervene and restore Dr Enejere as the Pro-chancellor of UNN,” they said.

Similar protests were carried out by ASUU, NASU, NAT and the Alumni association in the past three weeks calling on government to recall the pro-chancellor.